VIRGINIA CARRILLO (at right) addressed the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education at Tuesday night’s meeting (OC Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano

For the second time in less than a year, the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education voted down a request for the establishment of a charter school within the boundaries of the GGUSD.

On Tuesday night, the board voted 4-0 – with Walter Muneton absent – to reject the application submitted by Virginia Carrillo to establish the Achievers Global Academy.

“There are some schools in this district which could use some improvement,” said Carrillo, “and in speaking with some community members, it’s clear that more choices are desired.”

She went on to challenge some of the criticism leveled at her proposal in district staff reports.

But the board was not impressed. Board Vice President Teri Rocco said “Unfortunately the resubmitted petition continues to make big promises for English learners, but fails to follow through with a coherent plan for serving this target student population.” She called it an “unreliable proposal” and said it “lacked community support.”

Board member Dina Nguyen offered Carrillo some encouragement, suggesting that – despite some “substandard” parts of the proposal –with perseverance and improvements to her plan, she might eventually be successful.

Tuesday’s action followed on action by the board in December to reject a similar proposal on 4-0 vote, but with Rocco absent that night.

The GGUSD board’s next meeting will be held on Aug. 20.